WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS AT THE ALAMODOME

The Spurs' season-opener "turned wet and wild when a high
pressure water cannon in the Alamodome erupted during the indoor
fireworks show, unleashing a torrent that soaked hundreds of fans
and delayed the game by 50 minutes." Red Cross officials
reported treating 31 fans who were injured during the accident.
Mike Abington, Director of the Alamodome, "blamed the
pyrotechnics for the disaster" that lasted about 4 minutes. "The
cannon gushed about 2,500 to 2,900 gallons per minute," drenching
some of the lower sections. Abington said the fireworks should
not have set off the cannon, as Spurs officials met with fire
personnel earlier in the day and "arranged to cap the smoke and
fire detectors in the roof." Most of the fans decided to stay
for the game, with only about 150 people asking for ticket
refunds (SAN ANTONIO NEWS EXPRESS, 11/7). CNN's Fred Hickman
said Friday's MCI Proof Positive Play of the Day goes to the
Spurs' "Marketing and Promotions guy down in San Antonio, who is
sitting in a room tonight trying to think up an explanation to
give his boss as to why those indoor fireworks" were necessary
("Sports Tonight," CNN, 11/4).